Police have reported that a man was fishing in the channel off Slapton Sands when two men in an inflatable boat approached his vessel, threatened him with a knife, cut his nets and stole the fish he’d caught.

Other details are scarce at present but officers have urged people not to be tempted to buy fish on the black market as it may well be the result of crime.

A Kingsbridge police spokesman said: “This morning at about 5.30am a local fisherman was threatened three miles out to sea off Slapton Sands by two men in a white inflatable.

“They had cut his nets and stolen the fish. He was threatened with a knife.